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WIS PAGE BLANK 



WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION 
International Bureau 




PCT 

INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) 



(§11) Unteraat kraal Patent Classification 4 : 

©Q)6F9>/38 9 US/06 



At 



{U) International PoabDicatSon Number: WO 86/ 07174 

(43) nnternatt nal PuMicati n Bate: 4 December 1986 (04.12.86) 



(211) IlQiteraatiointalt Application Number: PCT/US85/01435 
(22) natteraatfioiaai Hlimg Pate : 29 July 1 985 (29.07.85) 

<3E)> Priority Application Nmmnber: 735,641 

(32) Priority ©ate: 20 May 1985 (20.05.85) 

(33) Priority Country: US 



(7fl)f72) Applicant omaS Inventor: SHEKELS, Howard, D. 
[US/US]; 8619 N. Cardinal Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85028 
(US). 

(74) Agent: PHILLIPS, James, H.; Cates & Phillips, 3800 N. 
Central Avenue, Suite 920, Phoenix, AZ 85012 (US). 



(81) Designated States: DE (European patent), FR (Euro- 
pean patent), GB (European patent), J P. 



Published! 

With international search report. 
Before the expiration of the time limit for amending the 
claims and go be republished in the event of the receipt 
of amendments. 




MAT. 
> BOSSIER 



(54) Title: SUPER-COMPUTER SYSTEM ARCHITECTURES 



(57) Abstract 

A computer system in which instruction sequencing is 
under the control of a program control computer (2), but each 
individual instruction is assigned for execution to a individual 
instruction computer (5-10) in a bank of instruction compu- 
ters. Each instruction computer includes programmable in- 
struction decoding means (16) by the modification of which 
the microtasks undertaken to execute an instruction are accor- 
dingly modifiable, either between successive execution cycles 
or during a single execution cycle. Thus, the system has the in- 
herent ability to learn and adapt during the performance of a 
pr gram. The system may be extended in two-dimensional 
and three-dimensional arrays to obtain a multiplication of 
power and to enjoy redundancy advantages. 



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Austria 


<EA 


Gabon 


MR 


Mauritania 




Australia 


<GEJ 


United Kingdom 


MW 


Malawi 


m 


Barbados 


Mil 


Hungary 


NL 


Netherlands 




Belgium 


DTT 


Htaly 


wo 


Norway 


0G 


Bulgaria 


JUP 


Japan 


ao 


Romania 


OS 


Brazil 


KIP 


Democratic People's Republic 


SB 


Sudan 


ra- 


Central African Republic 




of Korea 


SE 


Sweden 


ce 


Congo 


m 


Republic of Korea 


SN 


Senegal 


CSS 


Switzerland 


U 


Liechtenstein 


su 


Soviet Union 


CM 


Cameroon 


IUt 


Sri Lanka 


* TD 


Chad 


©E 


Germany, Federal Republic of 




Luxembourg 


TO 


Togo 


OS 


Denmark 


MC 


Monaco 


US 


United States of America 


n 


Finland 


MG 


Madagascar 






FBI 


France 


ML 


Mali 







ISDOCID: <WO 8607174A1J_> 



WO 86/07174 



PCT/US85/01435 



1 

SUPER-COMPUTER SYSTEM ARCHITECTURES 

Field of the Invention 

This invention relates to data processing systems 
and, more particularly, to computer system architectures 
which are especially applicable to large scale, powerful 
systems • 

Background of the Invention 

Some current and many contemplated applications for 
large scale r powerful computer systems require tremendous 
capabilities for computation which continue to push the 
state of the art in the field for current applications 
and which far exceed the state of the art for 
contemplated applications* The performance of computer 
systems has generally been evolutionary in that the 
fundamental architecture has remained in a traditional 
configuration (sometimes called "Von Neumann") involving 
the sequential execution of instructions which 
individually are rigidly defined. Even such techniques 
as parallel processing typically involve arrays of 
traditionally configured processors functioning under the 
coordination of a master processor. Virtually all known 
present and contemplated (insofar as they are disclosed 
in the literature) system architectures can be analyzed 
and identified as Von Neumann variations. 

One of the present trends for computer system 
architectures is toward very fast processors having 
relatively limited command structures. Thus, it is not 
unlikely that most future computers will be more 
elementary than those in current use, but will be 
ultrafast. One significant drawback for this possible 
evolutionary path is that more and more of the 
"responsibility" for system performance falls on the 
softwar , and it is the experienc of the industry that 
the performanc of many fine computer systems remains 
software limited. That is, the ultimate p rformance of 
the systems are limited by inefficiencies which are 




FCT/US8S/© 1435 



2 

simply unavoidable in all but vcsry @h@rt programs written 
in machine language*, 

Many future applications, such as in artificial in- 
telligence, advanced space technology" and the like, 
Impose computational requirements which exceed the 
ability of traditional Von Neumann systems, no matter how 
closely the theoretical ©peed limits are approached g and 
no matter how configured or arrayed <> 

Thus, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the 
art that the fundamental architectural approach for large 
scale 9 powerful systems must be rethought if demanding 
future applications are to be dealt witho It will 
therefore be commensurately appreciated by those skilled 
in the art that it would be highly desirable to provide a 
new architectural structure by the use of which the 
fundamental and inherent limits of conventional computer 
systems may be avoided „ 



WO 86/07174 



PCT/US85/0143S 



3 

Objects of the Invention 

It is therefore a broad object of my invention to 
provide a new computer system architecture. 

In another and fundamental aspect, it is an object 
of my invention to provide a computer system architecture 
which admits of modification of the computer instruction 
set. 

It is a further object of my invention to provide a 
computer system architecture in which the computer 
instruction set can be modified by stored program 
control . 

It is a more specific object of my invention to 
provide a computer system architecture in which each 
instruction of the computer instruction set, whose 
execution is coordinated by a program control computer, 
is executed by an individual instruction computer. 

It is a still further object of my invention to 
provide means in each instruction computer for modifying 
the effects of executing a given instruction prior to or 
during execution. 



.8607174A1_I_> 




IPCT/US85/0143S 



4 

Summary of the Invention 

These and other objects of my invention are achieved 
by employing a unique computer system architecture in 
which a program control computer is in communication with 
a bank of instruction computers o The program control 
computer includes instruction execution coordinating 
mean© which respond to the presence ©f an instruction in 
a program sequence by identifying the instruction and 
selecting an instruction computer to execute the 
instruction o Each instruction computer includes 

programmable instruction decoding means which serve to 
identify the microtasks required for executing a given 
instruction o The programmable instruction decoding means 
are further adapted to respond to instruction 
modification signals applied thereto to change the 
microtasks identified as necessary for executing the 
instruction o The programmable instruction decoding means 
have the ability to dynamically change the precise 
execution of an instruction p not only between successive 
execution cycles, but also during a single execution in 
response to intermediate results 0 The power of the 
system may be increased by extending levels in a two- 
dimensional array and extending the multi-level systems 
in a three-dimensional array 0 



WO 86/07174 



PCT/US85/0I43S 



5 

Description of tfrg pyavlnq 

The subject matter of the invention is particularly 
pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding 
portion of the specification. The invention , however, 
both as to organization and method of operation, may best 
be understood by reference to the following description 
taken in conjunction with the subjoined claims and the 
accompanying drawing of which: 

Fig. 1 is a ma j or block diagram of an exemplary 
computer system employing the present architecture; 

Fig. 2 is a more detailed block diagram of the 
system of Fig. 1; and 

Fig. 3 illustrates the extension of the system of 
Figs. 1 and 2 into multi-level two-dimensional arrays and 
three-dimensional arrays of multi-level systems. 



,86071 74A1_L> 



WO 86/07174 



PCT/US85/ttl435 



<S 

Detailed Description of the Inventi n 

The major block diagram of Fig 0 1 illustrates a 
fundamental aspect of the present invention which sets it 
apart fro® prior art data processing system 
architectures o She system of Fig D 1 includes any 
suitabi© aggregation of input/output devices and mediums 
1 in communication with a high speed program control 
computer 2o Also in communication with program control 
computer 2 is a system main memory 3 which may consist of 
any assemblage of memory storage means appropriate to a 
given system application 0 Both the high speed program 
control computer 2 and the system main memory 3 are in 
communication with a bank of instruction computers 4„ As 
few as one instruction computers could comprise the bank 
4, but efficient embodiments of the invention preferably 
include at least as many instruction computers in the 
bank 4 as there are instructions in the repertoire of the 
high speed program control computer 2 * Thus, the bank of 
instruction computers 4 illustratively include 
instruction computer (00) 5, instruction computer (01) 6, 
instruction computer (02) 7, instruction computer (03) 8, 
an indeterminate number of instruction computers 9 and 
instruction computer (n) 10 which represents the final 
instruction computer in the illustrative bank 4„ 

It will be understood that the high speed program 
control computer 2 does not itself execute all the 
instructions in a program executed by the system , but 
rather assigns the execution of each instruction in its 
instruction set to one instruction computer among the 
bank 4 0 Merely by way of elementary example, if the 
instruction °°00 m in the repertoire of the high speed 
program control computer 2 is 00 add one to operand 00 , the 
program control computer 2 may issue the operand to 
instruction computer 00 5 along with a signal advising 
the instruction computer 00 to A) initiate instruct! n 
execution, B) advise the high speed program control 
computer 2 when execution of the instruction has been 



WO 86/07174 



PCT/US85/01435 



7 

completed (or some m aningful intermediat result has 
been btain d) , and C) r turn the r suit to the high 
speed control computer 2. Other instructions in the 
repertoire of the high speed program control computer 2 
may be executed (serially, in parallel, or both) by the 
instruction computers comprising the bank 4. 

A second fundamental aspect of the architecture of 
the system comprising the present invention is that, as 
will be discussed more fully below, means are including 
in each instruction computer in the bank 4 for altering 
the meaning and consequent execution of an instruction to 
be performed (or being performed) by an instruction 
computer. Thus, returning to the elementary example 
given above, the instruction M 00", which would ordinarily 
be assigned for execution to instruction computer (00) 5, 
might have evolved within the instruction computer "OO" 
from an "add one to the operand" to something very much 
more complex (still by way of example: a macro- 
instruction such as "find the prime numbers falling 
between limits a and c") which would better serve 
performance of the program segment under immediate 
execution, and the change might be effected within the 
instruction computer (00) either before or during 
instruction execution. The source for directing the 
change in the execution of an instruction may originate 
from the system program being performed, from human 
intervention as through an operators 1 console or from 
within the assigned instruction computer itself, as 
through interpretation of intermediate results. Thus, 
the instruction "00" might be further refined, between 
executions or during a single execution from intermediate 
results, to "find the second prime number between the 
limits b and c, a < b < c". Thereafter, when the 
instruction "00" is sensed during execution of a program 
by the high speed program c ntrol computer 2, that 
instruction will b so x cuted until again r vis d or 
reinitialized. 



86/4D7174 



PCT/US8S/0M3S 



8 

Figo 2 is a more detailed block diagram of the 
system illustrated in Fig«> 1 0 2n Fig<> 2 , the 

input/output block has been separated into input la, 
output lb, and operator® 0 console le 0 The program 
control computer 2, the system main memory 3 and the 
illustrated instruction computers 5,6,7,8, and 10 from 
the bank are all coupled for mutual communication through 
a comprehensive bus system 11 0 The operators 0 console 1c 
also has access to the bus system 11, and it is 
contemplated that some embodiments of the invention would 
be most efficient if the input sub-system la and output 
subsystem lb had direct access to the bus system 11 . 
The input la and the output lb sub-systems are not of 
direct import to the fundamental aspects of the present 
invention and are therefore shown in Fig a 2 as 
communicating only with the program control computer 2« 

High speed program control computer 2 includes 
instruction and operand register (s) 12 for receiving and 
temporarily storing instructions and any associated 
operands from, for example f the system main memory 3o An 
arithmetic and logic unit 13 in the program control 
computer 2 communicates with the instruction and operand 
registers 12 , the bus system 11, and an instruction 
execution coordinating unit 14 which performs supervisory 
functions pertaining to execution instruction within the 
system • The instruction execution coordinating unit 14 
also accesses the bus system 11 and serves to continually 
monitor and regulate the relationship between the program 
control computer 2 and the instruction computers 0 The 
instruction execution coordinating unit 14, upon 
determining the identification of an instruction to be 
executed in accordance with the currently running 
program, determines the specific instruction computer to 
which that instruction is currently assigned for 
execution, determines the status (i.ee, availability or 
potential availability) of the assigned instruction 
computer and, when appropriate, causes an indication that 
the instruction computer is to commence its execution 



WO 86/07174 



PCT/US85/01435 



9 

function operating n such operand information as may be 
supplied t it via th bus system 11, as may be available 
from the results of previous execution (s) or both. 

The instruction computers comprising the instruction 
computer bank are, for most contemplated applications, 
preferably essentially identical to one another; however, 
this is not a constraint on the inventive system arch- 
itecture, and it is further contemplated that a hierarchy 
of instruction computers of differing power may be more 
appropriate for certain system applications. 

Thus, instruction computer (00) 5 includes 
instruction assignment and operand register (s) 15 for 
receiving and temporarily storing the information 
necessary to execute the instruction for which 
instruction computer (00) 5 is directed and set up to 
perform. On commencement of execution, a programmable 
instruction decoding unit 16 is activated and issues 
signals to instruction microtask generator unit 17. The 
information contained in the signals applied to the 
instruction microtask generator unit 17 from the 
programmable instruction decoding unit 16 depends upon 
the current decoding configuration of the latter. The 
instruction microtask generator unit 17 responds to the 
applied signals by issuing signals representing the 
microtasks which must be performed in the system to 
execute the instruction assigned to the instruction 
computer (00) 5 as currently interpreted by programmable 
instruction decoding unit 16 in instruction computer 
(00). These microtask signals are applied, as may be 
appropriate, to an arithmetic and logic unit 18 in the 
instruction computer 5, an internal memory 19 in the 
instruction computer, a status unit 20 in the instruction 
computer and back to the programmable instruction 
decoding unit 16 in the instruction computer. Such 
microtasks, if any, as may be necessary for performance 
outside the instruct! n computer 5 to complet 
instruct! n ex cution are issued to the bus system 11 and 
communicated to th ir d stination. Preferably, each 



wo m/mi74 



PCT/US8S/0M35 



10 

instruction computer in the bank is capable of generating 
a comprehensive set of microtask signals to effect any 
data manipulation of which the system is capable o Thus, 
each instruction computer has the inherent ability to 
perform powerful macro-instructions which may evolve 
therein „ 

Arithmetic and logic unit 18, internal memory 19, 
and programmable instruction decoding unit 16 may all 
communicate among one another „ The arithmetic and logic 
unit 18 also receives operand information from the 
instruction assignment and operand register (s) 15, issues 
signals to the status unit 20 and also is capable of 
placing information on the bus system 11 for destinations 
external to the instruction computer 5o 

A primary feature of the programmable instruction 
decoding unit 16 is its programmabilityo That is, it may 
be reconfigured to issue a different set of signals to 
the instruction microtask generator unit 17 whereby a 
given instruction may be interpreted and executed 
differently during different instruction cycles o Thus, a 
programmable instruction decoding unit 16 may be 
reconfigured under the influence, separately or in 
conjunction with one another, of external signals from 
the program control computer, system memory, or from the 
console under the influence of a programmer «> From 
internal sources, the programmable instruction decoding 
unit 16 may be reconfigured by signals from the 
arithmetic and logic unit 18, internal memory 19, and the 
instruction microtask generator 17 o 

It will therefore be understood that the actual 
interpretation and execution of an instruction received 
by an instruction computer may be varied from execution 
cycle to execution cycle and, further, that its 
configuration can be modified during a single execution 
cycle as a result of the interpretation of intermediate 
results or for other reasons which render the 
00 adaptation ra of the precise execution of the instruction 
to be desirable o 



4SDOCID: <WO 8607174A1_I_> 



WO 86/07174 



PCT/US85/01435 



11 

The slgnificanc of the system architecture 
presented h rein will now b come more apparent to those 
skilled in the art . By this system architecture , not 
only can the system, as a whole, "learn 19 to execute a 
program more efficiently, but the instructions themselves 
can be adapted between successive executions and even 
during execution. Because of this ability to learn and 
adapt, the spread of system responsibility between 
software and hardware can be optimized; i.e., the system 
becomes less software-bound since the software need not 
be as complex and detailed as with traditional high speed 
computer systems in which the "definition 19 of individual 
instructions remains fixed or only slightly modifiable 
within strict and predetermined limits. 

The actual logical design of several constituents of 
the system illustrated in Fig. 1 and 2, particularly 
those of the program control computer 2 and the 
instruction computers in the bank 4 as exemplified by the 
instruction computer 5, straightforwardly follow their 
function and can be carried out according to conventional 
techniques. It may be noted that the operating systems 
employed, respectively, in the program control computer 
2 and in the instruction computers need not necessarily 
be the same. An instruction computer need only be 
furnished with operand-like information if necessary, 
instruction modification information if applicable, and 
an indication that it is to commence undertaking its 
internally defined and adaptable instruction sequence and 
have the results available when completed (or at an 
intermediate point) as indicated by the status unit 20. 
Therefore, the instruction computers, operating at a 
different level from the program control computer, are 
somewhat independent and can use an operating system 
optimum for their structure as chosen by the logic and 
circuit designers* 

Communication (over the bus system 11 and otherwise 
such as in dedicated channels) between the various system 
constituents may b perf rmed in parallel, in seri s or 



INSDOCIO: <WO 6607174A1_I_> 



WO 86/07174 



PCT/US85/0JL435 



12 

in a combination series/parallel aarmer as^ again, the 
detailed design of an individual system may prescribe « 

Th<& system shown in Fig c 2 is essentially uni- 
dimensional in that there is shown only a single program 
control computer, a single bank of instruction computers, 
and & single level ©f main memory and input/output <> 
However^, the system architecture is especially well 
adapted for integration into very large scale two- 
dimensional and three-dimensional supersystems 
particularly including those subject to reconfiguration 
under program control <> Referring now to Fig 0 3, 
representations of such supersystems employing extensions 
of the architecture of the present invention are 
presented o Xt will be seen in Fig 0 3 that multi-level 
system (0) 25 comprises a series of program control 
computers 26 disposed in levels 0°p„ Similarly, a series 
of instruction computer banks 27 are disposed at levels 

0- m and a series of system memories 28 are disposed at 
levels 0-1 o (Thus, each level of the multi-level system 
25 comprises much of the structure illustrated in Fig„ 
2 o ) Communication both within a level and among 
different system levels may be carried out across a 
three-dimensional multi-bus system 29 » Input/output 30 
may be coupled into the system at one or more levels, 
typically interfacing either with the multi-bus system 29 
or one ©r more program control computers o 

The two-dimensional supersystem comprising multi- 
level system 0 may be further extended by interfacing the 
multi~bus system 29 with additional multi-level systems 

1- g 31 o It will be apparent that, under program control, 
the instruction computers at different levels in multi- 
level system (0) 25 can be accessed by the program 
control computers 26 and memories 28 at diverse levels in 
order to achieve not only redundancy, but the ability to 
adapt to a complex problem virtually to the extent of 
realising the equivalent of a hardwired, completely 
special purpose system., The provision of additional 



SDOC1D: <WO 8607174A1J_> 



WO 86/07174 



13 



PCT/US85/01435 



multi-level syst ms 31, within practical limits, further 
extends the system power to adapt. 

in a multi-level system, one program control 
computer must generally be dominant in order to direct 
system reconfiguration as may be useful and to resolve 
conflicts which may arise from, for example, attempts by 
multiple program control computers to access a given 
instruction computer. Similarly, in a three-dimensional 
system including a plurality of multi-level systems, a 
hierarchy must be established, and a single program 
control computer will be the ultimate arbiter. 

Referring again to Fig. 2, it will be noted that 
system initialization is a substantial event because each 
of the instruction computers must be made aware of its 
initial instruction decoding configuration . 

initialization may be performed by running, in the 
program control computer 2, an initialization program 
which assigns to each instruction computer in the 
instruction computer bank its beginning instruction 
sequence. Alternatively, an initialization signal may be 
applied to each instruction computer which has 
permanently stored therein (as in internal memory 19) the 
key to its initial instruction decoding. For achieving 
the most flexibility and for providing redundant 
capability against the failure of one or more instruction 
computers, the former procedure is preferred. 

As previously noted, the logical design of 
individual computer systems employing the novel 
architecture set forth herein is susceptible to 
performance using standard techniques and will vary 
according to the system size, intended application, logic 
family chosen, etc. 

Therefore, while the principles of the invention 
have now been made clear in an illustrative embodiment, 
th re will be obvious, to those skilled in the art, many 
modifications of structure, arrangements, proportions, 
and the elements us d in the practice of th invention 
which are particularly adapted for specific environments 



NSDOCID: <WO B607174A1J_> 



WO 86/07174 



PCT/US85/01435 



14 



and op rating requirements without departing from those 
principles. 



SDOCID: <WO__ee07174A1_l_> 



WO 86/07174 



PCT/US85/01435 



15 

I CLAIM: 

1. A data processing system including: 

A. a program control computer; 

B. a bank of instruction computers; 

C. means coupling said program control computer and 
each instruction computer in said bank for 
communication therebetween; 

D. instruction execution coordinating means 
included in said program control computer and 
adapted to transfer a signal representing an 
identified instruction to one of said instruction 
computers ; and 

E. programmable instruction decoding means included 
in at least one of said instruction computers for 
receiving a signal representing an instruction and 
for responding thereto by generating microtask 
signals representative of the tasks required for 
executing the instruction, said programmable 
instruction decoding means being further adapted to 
respond to instruction modification signals applied 
thereto by changing the microtask signals generated 
thereby* 

2. The data processing system of Claim 1 in which each 
instruction in an instruction set of said program control 
computer is assigned to an instruction computer in said 
bank and in which each said instruction computer in said 
bank includes programmable instruction decoding means for 
receiving a signal representing said assigned unique 
instruction and for responding thereto by generating 
microtask signals representing the tasks required for 
executing said assigned unique instruction, each said 
programmable instruction decoding means being further 
adapted to respond to instruction modification signals 
applied thereto by changing the microtask signals 
gen rated thereby. 



WO 



® 



PCT/US8S/0143S 



16 

3o Th© data processing system of Claim 2 in which said 
program control computer includes means responsive to 
system initialisation for generating a group of 
predetermined instruction modification signal sets and 
for transferring a predetermined one of said instruction 
modification signal sets to said programmable instruction 
decoding means in each said instruction computer in said 
bank to establish initial mierotask signals generated 
thereby in response to a signal representing said unique 
instruction assigned to each said instruction computer 0 

4o The data processing system of Claim 2 in which each 
said instruction computer includes feedback means for 
selectively responding to intermediate results obtained 
during the execution of an instruction for issuing 
instruction modification signals to said programmable 
instruction decoding means included therein whereby 
mierotask signals generated by said programmable 
instruction decoding means are changed during instruction 
execution o 

5o The data processing system of Claim 1 which further 
includes a main system memory ? in which said coupling 
means comprises a bus system and in which said program 
control computer? said main system memory? and each of 
said instruction computers have access to said bus system 
for communication thereamongo 

So The data processing system of Claim 2 which further 
includes a main system memory, in which said coupling 
means comprises a bus system and in which said program 
control computer? said main system memory? and each of 
said instruction computers have access to said bus system 
for communication thereamongo 

7o Th data processing system of Claim 3 which further 
includes a main system memory? in which said coupling 
means comprises a bus system and in which said program 



JSDOCID; <WO 86071 74A1_I_> 



PCT/US85/01435 

17 

control comput r, said main system memory, and ach of 
said instruction computers hav access t said bus system 
for. communication thereamong* 

8. The data processing system of Claim 4 which further 
includes a main system memory, in which said coupling 
means comprises a bus system and in which said program 
control computer, said main system memory, and each of 
said instruction computers have access to said bus system 
for communication thereamong. 

9. A data processing system including: 

A. a plurality of program control computers; 

B. a supervisory computer; 

C. a plurality of instruction computer banks, each 
of said instruction computer banks comprising a 
plurality of instruction computers; 

D. a plurality of system memories; 

E. a bus system coupling said program control com- 
puters, said supervisory computer, said system 
memories and said instruction computers for 
communication thereamong; 

F. instruction execution coordinating means 
included in each of said program control computers 
and adapted to transfer a signal representing an 
identified instruction to one of said instruction 
computers ; and 

6* programmable instruction decoding means included 
in each of said instruction computers for receiving 
a signal representing an instruction to be executed 
and for responding thereto by generating microtask 
signals representative of the tasks required for 
executing the instruction, said programmable 
instruction decoding means being further adapted to 
resp nd to instruction modification signals applied 
theret by changing the microtask signals generated 
th reby. 



WO 86/07174 



<ISDOClD: <WO 8607174A1_I_> 



PCT/US85/0M35 

18 

10 o 'Efoe data processing system of Claim 9 in ^hich said 
supervisory computer is a selected one of said program 
control computer^ 

11 o The data processing system of Claim 9 in ^hich each 
said instruction computer includes feedback means for 
selectively responding to intermediate results obtained 
during the execution of an instruction for issuing 
instruction modification signals to said programmable 
instruction decoding means included therein whereby 
microtask signals generated by said programmable 
instruction decoding means are changed during instruction 
execution <> 

12 o The data processing system of Claim 10 in which each 
said instruction computer includes feedback means for 
selectively responding to intermediate results obtained 
during the execution of an instruction for issuing 
instruction modification signals to said programmable 
instruction decoding means included therein whereby 
microtask signals generated by said programmable 
instruction decoding means are changed during instruction 
execution* 




WO 86/07174 



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su® statute sheet 




INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT 

International Application No PCT/US 85/01435 



1. CLASSIFICATI 


N OF SUBJECT MATTER (it several classification symbols apply, indicate all) * 






According to International Patent C tees trie at ion (IPC) or to both National Classification and IPC 

4 ^ G 06 F 9/38; G 06 F 15/06 


II. FIILDS SEARCHED 


Minimum Oocumantatfon Searched 7 


Classification System 


Classification Symbols 


IPC 4 


G 06 F 


Oocumantation Saarehad othar than Minimum Documentation 
to tht Extent that auch Documents are Included In the Fields Searched • 




III. DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO RE RELEVANT* 


Category * 




Rstevant to Claim No. *> 


Y 


EP, 


A, 0121763 (M.S. GREGORY et al.) 17 
October 1984 

see page 8, line 22 - page 12, line 
14 and page 22, lines 13-34 




1 ,2,4-6,8 


Y 


US, 


A, 3308436 (W.C. BORCK et al . ) 7 
March 1967 

see column 3, line 3 - column 5, line 
54 




1 ,2,4-6,8 


A 
A 


DE, 
EP, 


A, 2425380 (G. URSCHLER) 27 February 
1975 

see page 5, last paragraph; page 6; 
page 12, paragraph 2 - page 20 , 
paragraph 1 

A1, 0077404 (M. KURAKAKE) 27 April 
1983 

see page 5, line 13 - page 6, line 11 




1 ,5 
1-3 


A 


Proceedings of the 1983 International 




./. 


♦ Spatial categories of cited documents: 

M A** document defining the general state ol the art which is not 
considered to be of particular relevance 

W E N earlier document out published on or attar the International 
filing data 

m L m document which may throw doubts on priority claim(s) or 
which la cited to establish the publication date of another 
Citation or other special reason (as specified) 

"O" document referring to an oral disc to sure, use, exhibition or 
ether means 

*P N document published prior to the Intemstional filing date but 
later than the priority date claimed 


M T* later document published after the International flHng date 
or priority date and not in conflict with the application but 
cited to understand the principle or theory underlying the 
Invention 

"X" document of psrttcular relevance; the claimed Invention 
cannot be considered novel or cannot be considered to 
Involve an Inventive step 

**Y" document of particular relevanco;* the claimed Invention 
cannot be considered to Involve an Inventive etep when the 
document le combined with one or mora other auch docu* 
mente. such combination being; obvious to a person skilled 
In the art. 

"A* document member ol the same patent family 


IV. CERTIFICATION 


Date of the Actual Completion of the International Search 

9th October 1986 


Oate of Mailing of this International Search Report 

2 f NOV 198ft 


International Searching Authority 

EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE 


Signature of Authoriied Off) eel 

M van Mnr . _ £ 















Form PCT/ISA/210 (eecbnd sheet) (January IMS) 



WSDOCID: <WO 8607174A1_I_> 



Bntornotional Application Wo. p^T /US 85/014 3 "5 — 2 — 



Coto0OC7 c 



Citation of Oocumont, with mdicatcon, rcftoro opproorioto. of ttco rctovant pDsoogos 



| Rolovant to Claim No 



Conference on Parallel Processing 
23-26 August 1983,, IEEE (New York, 
Go Fritsch et aLs W EMSY 85 The 
erlangen multiprocessor system for 
broad spectrum of applications" ff 
pages 325-330,, see page 326, left- 
hand column 



US) 



9-12 



Form PCT ISA.»210 (ostra ohool) (January 1CG5) 



SDOCID: <WO B607174A1_L> 



ANNEX TO THE INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPOR^ON 



INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION NO. 



PCT/US 85/01435 (SA 13698) 



This Annex lists the patent family members relating to the 
patent documents cited in the above-mentioned international 
search report «, The members are as contained in the European 
Patent Office EDP file on 22/10/86 

The European Patent Office is in no way liable for these 
particulars which are merely given for the purpose of 
information., 



Patent document 
cited in search 
report 



Publication 
date 



Patent family 
member ( s) 



Publication 
date 



EP-A- 0121763 


17/10/84 


AU-A- 
JP=A= 
US-A- 
CA-A- 

US-A- 


2527584 
59223874 
4580215 
1209711 
4546428 


13/09/84 
15/12/84 
01/04/86 
12/08/86 
08/10/85 


US-A- 3308436 




GB-A- 
DE-A- 
FR-A- 


1026890 
1238695 
1420405 




DE-A- 2425380 


27/02/75 


GB-A- 
AT-A, B 
JP-A- 


1456941 
335202 
50040243 


01/12/76 
25/02/77 
12/04/75 


EP-A- 0077404 


27/04/83 


WO-A- 
JP-A- 


8203708 
57176456 


28/10/82 
29/10/82 



For more details about this annex : 

see Official Journal of the European Patent Office, No. 12/82 



JSDOCID: <WO 8607174A1_I_> 



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